Fast Steering Mirror Navy SBIR FY2009.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2009.1 Topic No.: N091-087 Topic Title: Fast Steering Mirror Proposal No.: N091-087-0190 Firm: Physical Optics Corporation Photonic Systems Division 20600 Gramercy Place, Bldg. 100 Torrance, California 90501 Contact: Paul Shnitser Phone: (310) 320-3088 Web Site: www.poc.com Abstract: To address the Navy need for a compact and highly accurate scanner for the new airborne LADARs, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Fast Steering Mirror (FSM). This proposed device is based on POC's silicon processing and micromachining technologies utilized for the fabrication of a lightweight composite mirror and our compact interferometric position sensor for the precise control of mirror angular position. The innovations in mirror structure and feedback control sensors allow achieving the required switching speed and positioning accuracy within a specified form factor. As a result, this scanner offers positioning accuracy of about a few microradians and a switching time less than 10 ms, while providing laser beam deflection around both X and Y axes and occupying a small volume. The combination of high positioning accuracy, high switching speed, and a small footprint directly addresses the requirements for its utilization in new Navy airborne LADARs. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of the Fast Steering Mirror by the design, fabrication, and demonstration of the system prototype. In Phase II, POC plans to advance the prototype design and rigorously test it in an operational environment. Benefits: The proposed development will fit stringent requirements for use in a compact multi-functional LADAR for the Navy Unmanned MQ-8B Fire Scout platform. The high precision of the beam positioning will allow its utilization in high-resolution 3-D printers used for the fast and inexpensive fabrication of various polymer components and details. Return